We’re now in the midst of arguably the most important design event of the year: Milan’s Furnitur Fair, and I’m stuck in San Francisco. SO, to satiate myself with not going to Milan for their fabulous design week, I’m reading great articles like the one referenced below:

First the bad news. Recession. Credit crunch. Property crises. Rocketing bankruptcies. Dwindling consumer confidence. And a very, very uncertain future. None of this bodes well for an industry whose fortunes depend on persuading the rest of us to splurge on things we don’t necessarily need. Yet there’s barely a whiff of pessimism in the whirlwind of events scheduled by one such industry, the furniture trade, as it prepares for its annual blowout at the Milan Furniture Fair, opening Wednesday. Hundreds of new products are to be launched, and lots of new ventures.